Cyanamide additives for cement compositions



Calcium lignosulphates are said to be set retarders and curing, various relative humidities, and various temperd y; 1,1 United States Patent 0 ice Patented Mar. 31, 1970 ing concrete. Tests demonstrate that this additive is efiec- ,766 tive in increasing compressive strength for concrete of CY AN ADDITIVES FOR CEMENT low cement content (con-cretes having compressive COMPOSITIONS A strengths less than 5,000 p.s.i.), but that the additive is Francesco g gi g gz gg fi f g zg :23:2 5 detrimental for concrete of high cement contents which omp m a ready have high compressive strength, i.e. 5,000 to 8,000 No Drawing confinuafioudmpm-t f application N p.s.i. It 18 thus understandable why an additive of the type 365,496, May 6, 1964. This application Jan. 27, 1967, described cannot be'widely employed in cement formula- Ser.No. 612,093 tions for the purpose of improving concrete final set Int. Cl. C04b 13/22, 13/26, 7/02 10 strengths, US. C 0 cm An object of this invention is to provide a new group of additives and a method which result in a cement com; position of enhanced set properties such as high flexu-ra ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE strength and high compressive strength, and improved ljortland cement compositions exhibit increased strength freeze thaw r ist when t ey contam from 0.5 to 15 based on total weight, Another object is to provide a new group of additives of an additive selected from the group: m which are of particular value in the production of conamide dimer alkali an alkalie arth meta s1 crete of high cement concentration, in situations where cyana'i'm de' dimer, and mixtures mixes of high compressive strength are desired.

A further object is to provide a new group of additives and a method for obtaining cement compositions having This is a Continuation-impart of y apphcatlon accelerated set time and which are lower caloric compo- Ser. No. 365,496 filed May 6, 1964, now abandoned. 15

This invention relates to t e u Of Select compounds These and other objects of this invention will become as additives to cement compositions, or to other formulaapparent to those kill d i th n as th d i ti tions, to impart strength and other desirable characterh f proceeds istics thereto, and relates also to compositions containing In accordance i i invention, novel Cement these additives. More particularly, this invention relates tures f formulations are provided by adding to cement to the use of additives which may be incorporated directly 3 compound le ted from the group consisting of cyaninto the cement or cement formulation by the manufacamide, cynamide dimer such as dicyanamide, and meta] turer, distributor, Ol' contractor, either alone 01' in combisalts of these compounds uch as metal and alkaline nation With Other COIIIPOSMQHS- The aclditives y 3150 be earth metal salts, e.g. sodium and calcium cyanamides, used 10 impart strength to formulatlons Such as clays, N-cyano-compounds and mixtures or any combination of Slips, glazes and the llkeone or more of these compounds or additives. It will be By cement, as that term 1s employed herein, th t apparent that the additive may be added to cement or to includes any one of the fi major vafletles 0f cement, as cement formulations, or may in combination with other recognized 111 the United States- YP I General-Use additives be added to cement or to cement formulations. ement is n a y for use in general concrete construc- In this connection, I have noted that the additive has a tions, when the Special Properties Specified for yp 11, strengthening effect on the bulking agent, such as sand. and V are not feqlliredp II Moderate 40 By other additives, as that term is employed herein, con- Heat-of-Hfll'deniflg Cement is normally for use in general ventional ingredients of cement formulations are inooncrete construction exposed to moderate sulfate action, 1 d d or where moderate heat of hydration is required. Type I While the sand form of silica is the most common r H gh Early-Strength cement is for use wh n igh early bulking agent used, any suitable bulking agent such as r ng h is q yp IV LOW-Heal cement is 1101 silica of other forms, diatomaceous earth, the various mal y for use When a low heat of hydration i5 q alkaline and alkali earth metal silicates, and aluminates Type V or Sulfate-Resisting cement is normally for use or their equivalents may be employed for this invention. when high sulfate resistance is required. The additive is incorporated with the cement in an The Principal Chemical and P y requirements of amount sufiicient to improve the strength characteristics these cements are set forth in AST M specification of the cement paste, mortar, or concrete, but is governed (3-150-53. by practical considerations such as maximum or minimal The invention appears to be most useful in cement and effects desired. As noted above, a cement paste includes cement formulations which, when set, form a paste, a merely cement and water, as the principal ingredient, mortar, or a concrete. The ultimate goal is in the preparawhereas mortar additionally includes sand as a principal tion of cement mixtures, which w e achieve high ingredient, and whereas concrete additionally includes compressive Strength and high fiexlllal Strength in the sand and a coarse aggregate, as additional ingredients. cured product. There are many factors which alTect the For any one of these cement compositions, based upon the characteristics of these cement formulations referred to total weight after the incorporation and mixing of the above, such as water retention, rate of set (as a function principal ingredients including the additive, the practical 1 f tempe l mp, pl i ity, rate of cure (as a funcworking range of the additive of this invention normally 1 tion of temperature), temperature resistance, terminal ranges from about 0.5 to about 15% by weight. Within compressive strength, terminal tensile strength, water perthis range, the maximum benefits appear to be obtained 5 meability, and shrinkage. from about 1% to about 5% of additive. Heretofore, additives have been known to improve one As noted above, it is within the scope of this invention 1 or more of the properties of concrete, while ideally reto prepare the final product such as cement paste, mortar, ducing the weight strength required for a given structure. or concrete by conventional methods and proportions a 1 Thus, typically calcium lignosulphates, aby-product of the are recognized in the art, additionally utilizing the addipaper pulp industry containing a certain amount of sugars tives of this invention as an ingredient. It is also within l or certain salts, have been employed. the scope of this invention to use various time periods for l 1 their use is said to increase the strength of the resultatures, as would be convenient to the ordinary artisan.

However, I have determined that supperior products are obtained if desired by the process under particular conditions in which (1) the relative humidity varies from about 40% to about 95% in range, (2) the temperature for airing the mix varies from about 55 F. to about 75 F., the preferred range being from about 60 F. to about 65 F., for example as based on periods for curing the mix varying from about 7 days to about 28 days, for making test determinations. Within these ranges, uniformly superior results appear to be obtained at a relative humidity of about 95%, at a temperature of about 65 F. for example, based on test determinations performed after a curing period of 1) about 7 days for mortar preparations and (2) about 14 to about 28 days for concrete preparations. Such ideal conditions might be used for production of precast concrete products such as pipes, conduits, beams and columns. The above temperature ranges, however, are not to be interpreted to limit the scope of this invention, since it is common knowledge that contractors pour cement compositions in wide temperature ranges in any kind of weather.

Water is the diluent conventionally used in various cement formulations; however, non-aqueous diluents also may be used alone or with water in combination with the principal ingredients of the formulation to which are added the additives of this invention.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood, the following examples are given primarily by way of illustration. No specific details or enumerations contained therein should be construed as limitations on the present invention except insofar as they appear in the appended claims. All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise specifically designated.

In the subsequent Examples 1 to 7, Example 1 is directed to the evaluation of the effect of additive in cement pastes and Examples 2 through 6 are directed to the evaluation of the additive in mortar mixes. Example 7 is directed to the evaluation of the additive in concrete compositions.

The chemical analysis of the cement used in the tests of Examples 1 through 7 is: SiO 21.01%; A1 5.62%; Fe O 2.66%; CaO (COInbined)-63.5l%; MgO2.90%; SO 2.36%; Na O0.57%; K O-0.5 ignition loss-0.65%; insoluble0.22%.

EXAMPLE 1 Cement pastes In order to demonstrate the effect of black calcium cyanamide (CaCN- on cement paste, for characteristics such as the time period required for the initial set, the time period required for the final set, quantity of water per unit weight of cement, and the normal consistency, tests were run using varying amounts of additive. The results are tabulated in Table I.

When preparing the test samples for the time of said studies of this example, all of the paste examples were adjusted to within the normal consistency specification of 9 mm. to 11 mm. (depth of penetration of a standardsized needle in a standard time). The adjustment is accomplished by increasing or decreasing the water/ cement ratio in the paste mix.

l Specification 9-11 mm.

Table I demonstrates a series of rate of set tests of cement paste, comparing a standard control blank to Mortar For the mortar tests of Examples 2 through 6, standard graded silica sand, type C-109, from Ottawa, 111., was used. The grading of this sand is given in Table II.

TABLE II Sieve size: Percent passing No. 30 99.6

No. 50 24.6 No. 100 1.4

Table II illustrates that (1) if the silica sand is graded through a screen of No. 30 mesh sieve size, 99.6% of the sand passes through the screen, (2) if the silica sand is graded through a screen of No. 50 mesh sieve size, 24.6% of the sand passes through the screen, and (3) if the silica sand is graded through a screen of No. mesh sieve, 1.4% of the sand passes through the screen.

EXAMPLE 2 To demonstrate the individual and comparative effects of two different additives, a series of tests were run, using calcium cyanamide (CaCN for certain tests and hydrogen cyanamide (H CN for other tests. These tests were compared with a control blank of mortar which contained no additive. Using calcium cyanamide, separate tests were run using 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% of additive, respectively, based on the total weight of all ingredients after incorporation. For each of the percentages illustrated, test runs were performed, and for each, the tensile strength and compressive strength was determined, in pounds per square inch. The triplicate castings, performed for each percentage, were made and cured in a water-saturated-atmosphere for 11 days at 50 C.

TABLE III.MO RIAR Average of 3 castings Parts per weight Tensile Compressive of cement, strength, strength, Additive percent p.s.i. p.s.i.

In the Table III of Example 2, tensile strength and compressive strength obtained from various percentages of additive incorporated in mortar are compared to each other, and compared to a control blank. The additives used were calcium cyanamide for three demonstrations, and hydrogen cyanamide for two demonstrations.

The maximum improvement in strength for about 7.5 of calcium cyanamide, is about 16% improvement for both the tensile strength and the compressive strength. The free cyanamide (hydrogen cyanamide) has a greater efiect on the tensile strength, as contracted to calcium cyanamide, and the free cyanamide has a comparable effect on the compressive strength, as contracted to calcium cyanamide.

EXAMPLE 3 To illustrate the effect of compressive strength of a broad percentage range the preferred additive, black calcium cyanamide, when tested after a 3 day cure and when tested after a 7 day cure, a series of tests of Example 3 Were performed using wet curing conditions. Wet curing conditions are a relative humidity of about 95 and y o n a temperature of about 65 F. The castings which included additive were compared to control blank castings which contained no additive.

The tests of this example were conducted by preparing standard 2 inch cubes with ingredients in the following proportions: Water255 parts; cement-500 parts; sand-1375 parts. The results after 3 days of cure and after 7 days of cure, for various percentages of additives, are illustrated in Tables IV-A and IV-B.

In Tables IV-A and IV-B the compressive strength after 3 days of cure of mortars (1) containing no additive, (2) containing 1% additive, (3) containing 3% additive, (4) containing no additive, (5) containing 5% additive, and (6) containing 10% additive, are compared to the compressive strength of mortars after 7 days of cure, containing corresponding percentages of additive and cured under identical wet conditions. The significant increases in compressive strength were obtained using the 3% and 5% additive.

The prec'entage improvement in the compressive strength of the mortar casings containing the percentages of additive are contrasted to the control blank, after 3 days of cure. Similarly, the percentage improvement for the mortar castings containing additive were contrasted to the control blank after 7 days of cure. The percentage of improvement of the castings containing additive as contrasted to the control blank is illustrated in Table V, for test determinations after 3 days of cure and 7 days of cure.

TABLE V.-PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN EXAMPLE 3 3 day euro 7 day cure 1% additive 7. 8 +6. 5 3% additive +1. 8 +28. add1tive +9. 1 +30. 3 10% additive. +14. 2 +26. 8

EXAMPLE 4 To illustrate the effect of varying the curing conditions from the wet conditions to the dry conditions on the compressive strength of mortar compositions containing the more significant percentages of additives, a series of tests of Example 4 were performed. Under wet conditions, two series of tests were conducted for each of the control blank. The 3% additivemortar, the 4% additive-mortar and 5% additive-mortar. For the dry conditions, a single series of tests were conducted in a similar manner. All the mortars were cured for 7 days prior to the test determinations. The results of these tests are illustrated in the table of Example 4.

TABLE VI Compressive Compressive strength for 7 day strength for 7 cure wet conditions, at rel. day cure, dry umldity, 65 F. (p.s.i.) conditions, at

40% rel. humid- Sample (a) (b) ity, F. (p.s.i.)

Blank 3, 365 3, 185 2, 495 3% additive 3,455 3,615 2, 651 4% additive 3,730 3,690 2, 720 5% additive 3, 750 3, 885 2, 600

The additive of Example 4 was calcium cyanamide the narrow percentage ranges of 3%, 4%, and 5% of additive for test determinations after 7 days of cure are compared in Example 4, as contrasted to the broad range comparison of Example 3. Also, Example 4, Table VI, illustrates the ditference in compressive strength of mortar composition with and without additive, when cured under wet conditions as contrasted to when cured under dry conditions. The percentage improvement in the compressive strength for the particular percentages of additive-containing mortars as compared to the control blank of the respective test series, are illustrated in Table VII.

TABLE VII-PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN EXAMPLE 4 3% additive +2. 7 +10. 3 +6. 8 4% additive- +10. 2 +15. 9 +9. 4 5% additive +10.3 +21.9 +4.6

The column under A corresponds to the series of tests under Example 4 performed under wet conditions. The column under B corresponds to the series of tests in Example 4, conducted under the dry conditions. The percentage increase in compressive strength for additive containing mortar oured for 7 days is a significant increase, when cured under either the wet conditions or the dry conditions.

EXAMPLE 5 Mortar compositions containing about 5% of additive give a more significant increase in compressive strength, than other percentages of additive. A series of tests of Example 5 were run comparing the compressive strength of four separate mortar mixes of identical cement contents, to which 5% additive had been incorporated, to four control blank mortar mixes containing no additive. The proportioning, the consistency, and the mixing of the mortars for these tests, conformed to the requirements specified in section seven of ASTM Standard C348 (test for fiexural strength Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Tentative), 1961 Book of ASTM Standard, Part 4, p. except that the flow was kept constant at 255 ml. (ASTM Standard C348 mix proportions correspond to those of section 7.8.4 of CSA Standard A5- 1961). The results of these tests are illustrated in Table VIH.

TABLE VIH.-COMPRESSIVE'STRENGTH FOR 7 DAY CUR- 163% I"I)IME AT 95% RELATIVE HUMIDITY AN D 65 F.

Sample I H III IV Blank 3, 360 3, 370 3, 400 3, 400 5% additive. 3, 750 3, 930 3, 700 4, 060 5% additive 3, 800 4, 050 3, 930

of mortar mix produces an increase in compressive strength of about 15%. The percentage increase in compressive strength obtained from the individual additive mixes of Example 5, are illustrated in Table IX.

TABLE IX Percentage increase in compressive strength Percent I +12 II +15 III +14 IV +18 A series of tests of Example 6 in which the mortar mixes were prepared under the same conditions as recited above, i.e. after 7 day cure at a relative humidity of 95% and at 65 F. were performed to determine the flexural strength of varying percentage additive-mortar mixtures comparing mortar mixtures cured under wet conditions to mortar mixtures cured under dry conditions, using black calcium cyanamide as the additive. In conducting the flexural strength test for the mortar preparations beam specimens of 1" x l" x 10" were prepared and cured in the manner illustrated in Table X.

TABLE X.FLEXURAL STRENGTH AT 7 DAY CURE Wet cure, 95% rel. Dry cure, 40% rel. humidity, 65 F. humidity, 65 13 (p.s.i.) (p.s.1.)

Example 6 demonstrates that black calcium cyanamide added in an amount of 3%, 4% or 5% to a mortar mix which is subsequently cured under wet conditions, each produces a significant and unexpected increase in flexural strength as contrasted to a blank mortar mix which contains no additive.

EXAMPLE 7 Concrete preparations TABLE XI Coarse aggregate Fine aggregate Sieve size Percent passing Sieve size Percent passing Physical properties of the Example 7 crushed limestone and natural sand are given in Table XII.

The series of tests illustrated in Example 7 compared the flexural and compressive strength increases of concrete mixes containing 5% of black calcium cyanamide additive, to control blank concrete containing no additive. Three mixes were prepared and cured under wet conditions. The first mix was cured and tested after a cure of a period of 14 days, and the second after a cure of a period of 28 days.

In conducting the test of Example 7, standard beams and cylinders were prepared and cured for the particular curing periods as noted above. In the determination of the flexural strength tests made using the 1" x 1" x 10" beams as used in Example 6, the tests were considered to be not sufiiciently reliable in view of the small beam size and in view of the impossibility of using tertiary point loading during the flexural strength test. Therefore, the tests were repeated on concrete specimens where the increased beam sizes permit use of the tertiary loading method. For the flexural strength test the particular size prepared from the concrete mix was 3 /2" x 4" x 16". The compressive strength tests on concrete were done on 4" x 8" cylinders. The control blank concrete mix of the following proportions was used: cement-45V: pounds; sandl12 /2 pounds; coarse aggregate-122.1 pounds of crushed limestome maximum); water- 22.1 pounds. The control blank fresh mix had the following properties: (A) Slump test-2% inch; (B) unit weight-147.2 pounds per cubic foot; (C) entrapped air-2.2%; (D) 270 pounds water per cubic yard.

Table XIII of Example 7 illustrates the improvement in flexural and compressive strength when 5% of black calcium cyanamide additive is used in concrete preparation, for a 14 day cure and a 28 day cure under wet curing conditions. Table XIII of Example 7 illustrates that after 14 days of cure and after 28 days of cure, 5% additive gave a flexural strength increase of +4% and +5% respectively, and gave a compressive strength increase of +22% and +20% respectively, which are significant in unexpected, superior increases. The percentage increase can be expected to continue to increase as the time of cure increases.

A further series of tests and compositions are described in the following specific Examples 8 through 13.

In Examples 8-13, a number of experiments have been carried out to determine the effect of calcium cyanamide and hydrogen cyanamide on the properties of portland cement paste, mortar and particularly concrete. Both calcium and hydrogen cyanamide were examined initially by substituting 3, 5 and 8% of the Portland cement, and then by adding 1 or 2% of either form of cyanamide. The percentages of hydrogen cyanamide are always based on the solid content of the solution, whereby the excess water was taken into account by adjusting the gauging water.

In the Examples 8-13, the following materials were used for the above experiments:

(1) Aero Calcium.Cyanamid, special, fine, hydrated (black powder).

(2) Aero Cyanamid-SO (Hydrogen cyanamide Solution).

(3) Type I Portland Cement, St. Marys Cement and Canada Cement C0.

(4) Graded Standard Ottawa Sand, ASTM C-109.

(5) Concrete Sand, ASTM C-33 (Fine Aggregate).

(6) /2" Tumbled Limestone (Coarse Aggregate).

The following standard test procedures were used:

(1) Normal Consistency, ASTM Cl87-64.

(2) Vicat Set Time, ASTM Cl9l-58.

1 Supplied by Cyanamid of Canada Ltd.

(3) Compressive Strength of Mortars, ASTM C109-64.

(4) Slump Test, ASTM 0143-53.

(5) Compressive Strength of Concrete, ASIM C192- 65 and ASTM C38-64 using 3'. x 6" cylinders.

(6) Proctor Penetration Set Time, ASTM C403-65T.

(7) Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete, ASTM C231-62.

(8) Temperature Set Time, ASTM 0172-66.

(9) Freeze-Thaw, ASTM C291-61T.

EXAMPLE 8 Portland cement pastes In this example, the water requirements and Vicat set times of plain pastes and pastes containing 3, 5 and 8% calcium or hydrogen cyanamide were determined according to ASTM C187 and ASTM C191. Only water and cement are mixed for pastes. The water is added until a standard paste thickness as measured by a Vicat needle is obtained..The results given in Table XIV show that calcium cyanamide retards the time of set slightly. However, a considerble acceleration of the set time was observed with hydrogen cyanamide. When 5 and 8% portland cement was substituted by hydrogen cyanamide the required set time minimum of 45 minutes was not obtained. In both cases an appreciable temperature rise was noticed, which is probably due to the rapid hydration of the portland cement, rather than to a reaction between hydrogen cyanamide and for example free lime present in the portland cement.

TABLE XIV.CONSISTENCY AND VICAT SET TIMES OF PASTES In order to compare the accelerating effect of hydrogen cyanamide with that of CaCl a series of experiments was carried out. It was found that the same degree of acceleration is obtained by 2% hydrogen cyanamide and 3.5% C8013. The results are shown in Table XV.

TABLE XV.EFFECT OF HYDROGEN CYANAMIDE AND gAgJTClsJM CHLORIDE ON THE VICAT SET TIME OF calcium cyanamide and 1, 2 and 3% hydrogen cyanamide to give a flow value of -115 were determined. In mortars, sand is also added to the mix in the ratio of 1 part cement to 2.75 parts sand. Water is then added to give the standard consistency as stated. Twelve 2" cubes made from each mix according to ASTM C109 and three cubes of each rrux were broken at the 1, 3, 7, and 28 days. The cubes were stored, immersed in water until the appropriate age. The results are shown in Table XVI.

TABLE XVL-COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH 0F MO RTARS Water/solids ratio required Compressive strength 1 (p.s.i.) Percent l to give 100- additives flow 1 day 3 days 7 days 28 days e 0. 480 1, 350 2, 250 3, 030 4, 110 3% CaNCN 0.494 1, 110 2, 250 2, 790 4, CaNCN 0. 494 900 1, 030 2, 530 3,680 CaNCN 0.497 950 2, 080 2, s40 HZNGNU 0. 444 310 2, 220 2, 760 4, 470 CaNC 0.438 970 2,130 3, 480 4,650 CaNCN- 0.492 1, 230 2,150 2, 900 4,330 H NC 0. 406 1, 630 2, 790 a, 570 5,220 H NCN 0. 454 1, 440 a, 090 3, 780 5, 240

St. Lawrence Cement Co. Type I Portland Cement.

l 1 and 2% added to the Portland Cement; 3, 5 and 8% substituting Portland Cement.

' Average 013 specimens.

EXAMPLE 11 Slump and compressive strength of portland cement concrete In this example, the water requirements for the plain mix and mixes containing 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8% calcium cyanamide and 1, 2 and 3% hydrogen cyanamide to give a 2" slump were determined using ASTM C143. A dry mix of 100:2162317 parts by weight of cementzsand: limestone was used exclusively.

Twelve 3" x 6" concrete cylinders prepared from these mixes and three cylinders from each mix were capped and broken at 1, 3, 7, and 28 days. The cylinders were stored at 95% relative humidity to the required age.

The results shown in Tables XVII, XVIII and XIX indicate that both forms of cyanamide increase the compressive strength of concrete. For hydrogen cyanamide Y the increase is noticeable at practically all strength levels, i.e. even in cases where further increases in the cement concentration no longer produce an increase in strength, as in Table XIX.

As it is well known, the strength of concrete can be increased by adding more cement, but up to a limit after which there is no further increase in strength with addition of concrete. Moreover, at high cement/aggregate ratios, shrinkage also becomes a problem. Table XX shows that with the addition of hydrogen cyanamide it is possible to continue the addition of cement, and obtain a strength increase, beyond the limit point without the cyanamide.

Type and percent of Vicat set time, Temperature rise additive hrs/min. set time, hrs/min. TABLE XVIL-COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH 0F CONCRETE None 3:00 6:40 55 Water/solids 2% HENC 0:35 1:15 ratio required Compressive strength 1 (p.s.i.) 2% 08012. 1:20 3:50 Percent l to give a 2" 3.7% 08012 0:30 additives slump 1 day 3 days 7 days 28 days Canada Cement 00. Type I Portland Cement. None 0. 480 1, 510 2, 100 2, 500 3, 390

5 Ca EXAMPLE 10 60 a7; CaNCN 0. 497 1, 460 1, 950 2, 620 4, 070 3% HNCN 0. 443 1, 200 l, 990 2, 720 4, 680

Portland cement mortar In this example, the water requirements for a plain mortar, and for mortars containing 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8% St. Mary's Cement Co. Type I Portland Cement. 1 Substituting Portland Cement. 1 Values are an average of three cylinders.

TABLE XVIIL-COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE Water/solids ratio required Compressive strength I (p.s.i.)

Percent l to give a 2" additives slump Slump in. 1 day 3 days 7 days 28 days None O. 511 2% 1, 775 2, 315 3, 420 4, 010 1% CaNCN 0. 511 2 1, 710 2, 550 3, 470 4, 335+8. 6 2% CaNCN 0. 511 2% 1, 565 3, 150 3, 570 4, 590+. 1 1% HNCN 0. 511 5% 1, 425 2, 950 3, 975 4, 710+17 2% HNCN 0. 511 7% l. 265 2, 905 4, 000 5, 040+26 Canada Cement C0. Type I Portland Cement. I Added to Portland Cement. 1 Values are an average of three cylinders.

TABLE XIX Compressive strength 1 (p.s.l., average of 3 tests) 7 days 28 days Cement: 2% Percent 1 aggregate HQN CN N 2H CH additives ratio Control added Control added 2% HzNCN- 0. 19 3, 655 4, 295 4, 270 5, 190 2% H2NCN 0. 30 4, 120 5,810 4, 770 6,600 2% HzNCN, 0. 50 4, 520 5, 950 4, 820 7, 000

Canada Cement 00. Type I Portland Cement. 1 Added to Portland Cement. I Values are an average of three cylinders.

EXAMPLE 12 In this example, the air content of freshly mixed concrete containing 3, 5 and 8% calcium cyanamide and 3% hydrogen cyanamide was determined according to ASTM C231 using a Press-Ur-Meter. The concrete was made with the dry mix of Example 11.

The results shown in Table XX show that cyanamides do not entrain air.

In this example, experiments were conducted to determine the efi'ect on the compressive strength of concrete under freeze thaw conditions when the concrete incorporated calcium and hydrogen cyanamides as additives.

The dry mix for the concrete was the same as that of Example 11.

The results of freeze-thaw experiments indicate that the hair-cracks which are present in plain concrete samples after 80 cycles of freezing and thawing are not present in samples containing either calcium or hydrogen cyanamide. Similarly the reduction in compressive strength due to freeze-thaw is greater for the plain concrete than for concrete containing cyanamide.

The results are given in Table XXL TABLE XXL-EFFECT OF FREEZE-THAW ON THE OOMPRESSIVE STRENGTH F CONCRETE (P.S.I.)

The additives of this invention, in the preferred embodiments, specifically include cyanamide, sometimes called hydrogen cyanamide, dicyandiamide, and calcium cyanamide, especially the black calcium cyanamide. Each of these materials separately or in admixture renders unexpected improvements in tensile and compressive strength, specific gravity and temperature resistance, for example. It has been seen that the addition of 3% to of crude calcium cyanamide, better known as black calcium cyanamide, to cement renders concrete with 20% higher compressive strength than is obtained without the calcium cyanamide additive. Hydrogen cyanamide is effective in slightly less amounts. The advantages to be obtained by the use of any one or more of these additives is dependent upon such variables as percent additive, composition of additive (i.e. calcium to free cyanamide ratio), and the proportion of cement in the mix. These factors would affect properties such as plasticity, rate of set, rate of cure, water retention, temperature of resistance, terminal compressive strength, terminal tensile strength, water permeability, and shrinkage, for example. When black calcium cyanamide is utilized as the additive, there is present (to one degree or another) calcium oxide. An excess of calcium oxide in cement compositions such as concrete, has a detrimental effect upon the concrete composition. Thus, the presence of calcium oxide in the additive could prevent the additive from being as effective as it might otherwise be. To prevent such a possibility, use of hydrogen cyanamide in minor percentage (less than 50%) with black calcium cyanamide, is a preferred embodiment of this invention. The calcium free cyanamide ratio can be changed to maximize or minimize certain properties of the additive. The black calcium cyanamide as well as other additives of this invention are of advantage in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions, as an additive for cement. The setting time test, using black calcium cyanamide, shows that the additive has an advantageous effect on the water requirement of the mix.

When an artisan wishes to increase the compressive strength of a high compressive strength concrete for example, because the concrete composition already has the maximum amount of cement present in the composition, additional compressive strength cannot be obtained by the addition of more cement. Thus, there is no other apparent way to increase the compressive strength of these high compressive concrete compositions except by the use of additives such as the additives of this invention. These additives are therefore important in producing the desired weight/ strength ratio as required in a given structure. Also, as an alternative to adding additional cement in the cement compositions of lower cement concentration and of lower compressive strength, additive may be used. The saving in cement per cubic yard is about 35 pounds of cement for concrete containing 480 pounds of cement per cubic yard; i.e., 445 pounds of cement to be used with additive is equivalent to 480 pounds of cement to be used without additive, per cubic yard of concrete. This means 24 pounds of additive per cubic yard of cement would replace 35 pounds of cement per cubic yard and maintain essentially the same compressive strength. This saving is of obvious economic benefit to those involved in the construction work.

When pure cyanamide (known as hydrogen cyanamide) is utilized as the additive, it preferably would be utilized in the form of a hydrogen cyanamide solution of about 50%, to give superior results. This would be a preferred process embodiment of this invention. The hydrogen cyanamide does not contain lime, calcium, or carbon which when present above certain percentages are deleterious to the properties of cement compositions such as concrete. The liquid preferably is added to the water, to insure good dispersion throughout the concrete.

The results illustrated in the examples indicate conclusively that cyanamide (particularly in the hydrogen form) is capable of improving the properties of portland cement concrete to a considerable extent. With additions of cyanamide it is possible to increase the compressive strength of concrete even at high levels of cement concentrations where further increases in cement are not effective or cannot be tolerated because of shrinkage etc.

The increase in strength is due to a direct effect on the constituents of portland cement, and is not due to the reduction in water requirement formed with hydrogen cyanamide. However, this ability to reduce the water requirement should be useful wherever the water/ solid ratio of the concrete is critical and air entraining is undesirable, i.e. prestressed concrete, concrete pipes, construction of dams etc.

Hydrogen cyanamide has also been found to accelerate the time of set of concrete more efficiently than calcium chloride. Since there are many applications where corrosion due to chlorides in the concrete cannot be tolerated, it is obvious that hydrogen cyanamide could be used as a replacement for calcium chloride, e.g. in many types of winter construction, manufacture of precast concrete blocks etc.

One of the most interesting observations about hydrogen cyanamide is the fact that it increases the freezethaw resistance of concrete. At the present time only air entrainmenthas been used for this purpose with some measure of success. However, air entrainment always decreases the strength of the concrete and air entraining agents are quite sensitive in their effectiveness to changes in the concrete composition, mixing time, temperature etc. It appears that hydrogen cyanamide is unique in so far as it represents a new type of material to improve the freeze-thaw resistance of concrete by a change in the basic properties of the cementitious phase in the concrete.

Other suitable changes and variations may be made in the carrying out of the invention as disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cement composition comprising portland cement and from 0.5 to about 15% of the total composition of an additive which improves the set characteristics of said cement composition when admixed with an aqueous diluent, said additive being selected from the group consisting of cyanamide, cyanamide dimer, alkali and alkaline earth metal salts of cyanamide dimer, and mixtures thereof.

2. A composition according to claim 1 in which said additive comprises hydrogen cyanamide.

3. A composition according to claim 1 in which said additive comprises calcium cyanamide.

4. A cement paste comprising the composition of claim 1 and an aqueous diluent. i

5. A cement composition comprising the composition of claim 1, and bulking agent selected from the group consisting of sand, diatomaceous earth, and coarse aggregate.

6. A composition comprising the composition of claim 5 wherein said bulking agent is sand, and water.

7. A concrete composition comprising the composition of claim 1, sand and a coarse aggregate.

8. A composition comprising the composition of claim 7 and water.

9. A method for forming a cast solid product which comprises admixing the composition of claim 1 with an aqueous diluent and curing at a relative humidity ranging from about 40% to about 95% and at a temperature of from about F. to about F.

No references cited.

TOBIAS E. LEVOW, Primary Examiner W. T. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. 11, 10690, 97, 31s

m3? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3503766 Dated March 3 97 Inventorgg) Frances c o DeMa ria It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column L Line 6L "contracted" should read contrasted Column L Line 66 contracted" should read contrasted Column 9, Line LL "ASTM 038-61 should read ASTM C39-6LL Column 5, Line 1 0 "casings" should read castings SIGNED AND SEALED EdwudMFletcher, I

m1 E- SW, 44 OHIO" Commissioner of Pat n L J 

